This installment of Metal Mayhem's Top Metal Bands of All-Time takes us to the number 12 band on the list:
Motörhead.
Motörhead is an English heavy metal band that formed in 1975 by bassist and singer Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister. Often included as one of the earliest members of The New Wave of British Metal, Motörhead has influenced countless bands throughout their nearly 40 years of making music.
The signature sound of Motörhead is a hybridization of the power and heaviness of metal with the speed and social awareness of punk. This was typically the case with most of the New Wave bands, but Motörhead was one of the best.
Their signature album, Ace of Spades, should be part of every metal fans collection. Period!
The coolest thing about Motörhead is their front man Lemmy. He is a badass! You get gems like this.
Question: "Who would win in an arm wrestling match, Lemmy or God?"
Answer: "Trick Question. Lemmy is God!"
On this installment of Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, we are looking at the 13th greatest metal band, Tool. I should probably write a more extensive post about this band, but I'm gonna make this quick and dirty . . . just like Maynard would want.
Tool is an American progressive rock/metal band from Los Angeles that formed in 1990 by singer Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Paul D'Amour (who was replaced by Justin Chancellor in 1995). They released their impressive debut album Undertow in 1993 which is one of the best progressive metal albums of all-time. I can honestly state that Tool has never released a bad album.
One thing that differentiates Tool from other metal bands is that they are a thinking man's metal band. I like to describe them as the modern-day and heavier version of Pink Floyd. I also really enjoy the vocal work of lead singer Maynard James Keenan. There aren't too many singers as good as Keenan.
This has been an exciting year for Metal Mayhem, and I have had a blast. While the heavy metal genre has been less popular than in recent years, there were several strong releases. Bands like Kreator, Sybreed, Coheed and Cambria, Marilyn Manson, Soundgarden, Epica, Delain, Testament, Iced Earth, Slipknot, Kamelot, AxeWound, Dragonforce, In This Moment, Down, Steve Harris, Geoff Tate, and even a live album by Iron Maiden. I have listed what I feel were the best metal albums of the year.
Also, if your needing something to look forward to in 2013, then how about this. Both Black Sabbath and Coheed and Cambria will have new albums at the beginning of the year. Looks like metal music will have a strong start to 2013.
Without further ado, here are the five best metal albums released in 2012.
5. Kreator, Phantom Antichrist
4. Epica, Requiem for the Indifferent
3. Testament, Dark Roots of Earth
2. Coheed and Cambria, The Aftermath: Ascension
1. Marilyn Manson, Born Villain
What are your favorite metal albums of 2012? Let me know!
Thanks for reading, and have a great new year!
Martin Sabin
For today's installment of Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time, we have Queensrÿche at number 14.
Queensrÿche is an American progressive metal band that formed in 1981 near Seattle, Washington. Their classic lineup included singer Geoff Tate, guitarists Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton, bassist Eddie Jackson, and drummer Scott Rockenfield. Along with Dream Theater, they can be considered one of the greatest progressive metal bands in history.
One of the things that makes Queensrÿche great is the vocals of Geoff Tate. He is possibly the most versatile singer in all of metal. His use of low pitched singing with high pitched screams are incredible. I also love the guitar work of Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton especially on Operation Mindcrime.
Over the years, the driving force behind the band were Tate and DeGarmo. During this period, they released some of the best progressive metal albums of all-time: Queensrÿche, Operation Mindcrime, Empire, Promised Land, The Warning, and Rage for Order.
However, DeGarmo left the band in 1997 leaving a creative void in the band. Over the last fifteen years, they have released six albums with varying levels of success. I have really enjoyed the albums: Tribe, Q2K, and Operation Mindcrime II, but their last two albums, American Soldier and Dedicated to Chaos were terrible albums.
During the summer of 2012, the band voted to fired Geoff Tate which led to much confusion and lawsuits. What ended up happening was that Tate released a solo album in early November that was pretty good, but before the release, he announced a "new" Queensrÿche. But wait, what about the band that fired him? They have their version of Queensrÿche as well.
The Tate led lineup features himself as lead singer, Kelly Gray (former member) on guitar, Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot) on bass, Bobby Blotzer (Ratt) on drums, and Randy Gane (Myth) on keyboards.
The other version of Queensrÿche includes Todd La Torre (Crimson Glory) on vocals, Michael Wilton on lead guitar, Parker Lundgren on rhythm guitar, Eddie Jackson on bass, and Scott Rockenfield on drums.
Despite the weirdness of their current situation, the classic Queensrÿche was one of the greatest metal bands to ever take the stage!
Today, you are in for a treat. We have a guest post by fellow blogger and music enthusiast, Brad Mathews. He and his wife, Kristy, have a great music blog that explores multiple genres. I am a fan of their blog, and you should definitely check it out at Think Musik.
Here is Brad's review on Sybreed's latest effort, God is an Automaton.
I hope that you all enjoy it as much as I do,
Marty Sabin
Sybreed-God is an Automaton
Some bands adhere to rigid standards created within the
confines of a musical genre they choose to perform. Others take such guidelines and bend them to
create a fresh perspective on said genre.
A precious few throw out all conventions of said genre(s) and build a
style of music that is exclusive to them alone.
Swiss extreme metal group Sybreed fit the latter
category. They have coined the term
‘deathwave’ which is said to combine elements from new wave and death
metal. The result is an exciting sound
that is so easy to enjoy that you can’t help nod your head to the rhythm. This music straddles an imaginary line
between extreme metal and new wave. It
is less extreme than most typical melodeath bands, but much wilder than your
average new wave artist.
Sybreed brings a heavy low-end bass sound to meet with
sweeping synths that range between atmospherics and all-out symphonic moments
while chugging complex riffs and blast beats permeate the foreground.
I became interested in Sybreed when their first album,
“Antares” was released. That album blew
me away by how heavy and catchy it was at the same time. The vocalist of this group switches from furious
screams to angry bellows to amazing cleans all in the same song in most tracks. The band’s next release, “The Pulse of
Awakening”, was powerful, but incorporated much more clean singing. “God is an Automaton is the third full-length
disc from this band. It marks a return
to darker, more savage landscapes hinted at with “Antares”. The synths are just as powerful and as
uplifting as ever, while the heavier aspects of the music are unrelentingly
brutal.
This is a band which has to be experienced to be
appreciated. They are criminally
underrated in my opinion and deserve every helping of love bestowed upon
them. The music is progressive-styled
alternative metal with occasional blast beats and synths that most other bands
can only dream of producing.
The cover art, depicted above, is darker than previous
albums and was created by Seth Siro Anton of the symphonic death metal band
SepticFlesh. This man’s artwork is
incredible, which deserves special props.
If you like your metal with extreme passages and progressive
synths, then you will enjoy Sybreed’s latest offering. Check out a couple of choice tracks from “God
is an Automaton” below. Thanks for
reading and enjoy –brad mathews.
P.S. please visit us at ThinkMusic.blogspot.com where we cover various genres of music and offer
up generous helpings of new music, less famous artists, and links to free
downloads.
Today's installment of Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time takes us to the "Godfather of Heavy Metal," John "Ozzy" Osbourne. As most people know, he was the original lead singer of the iconic metal band Black Sabbath until drugs forced the band to replace him. After encouragement from his soon-to-be wife Sharon, he began his solo career after discovering his musical soul mate, guitarist Randy Rhoads.
In 1981, Osbourne released his classic album Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. The duo of Ozzy and Rhoads was metal magic . . . albeit brief. While they only released two albums together, they will always be considered Ozzy's two greatest solo efforts. Unfortunately, on March 19, 1982, Randy Rhoads was killed in a plane crash.
Despite the loss of Rhoads, Ozzy moved on releasing some decent albums in Speak of the Devil, Bark at the Moon, The Ultimate Sin, and No Rest For the Wicked. The later of these albums featured the debut of Zakk Wylde. With Wylde as his lead guitarist, Ozzy recorded the best music since the Randy Rhoads' era with the albums: No More Tears, Ozzmosis, and Black Rain.
On a personal note, I have always been a huge fan of Ozzy ever since I first heard "Crazy Train." In my opinion, there has never been another metal artist who has transitioned into a solo career as flawlessly as Ozzy. If there was one individual that epitomizes the metal genre, it's Ozzy Osbourne.
I love Ozzy! There I said it! I have seen him in concert on three occasions, and he was amazing each time. He is and always will be one of my favorite singers.
Today's installment of Metal Mayhem's Top 100 Metal Bands of All-Time brings us to shock rocker Marilyn Manson, and his eponymous band. Originally named Marilyn Manson & The Spooky Kids, they formed in 1989 by Marilyn Manson (Brian Warner) and Daisy Berkowitz (Scott Putesky). The band has underwent many lineup changes, but Manson has been the only constant.
There wasn't a band more controversial during the 1990's than Marilyn Manson, yet controversy sells. They were incredibly popular during this period. Manson was often criticized for themes including anti-religion, sex, drug use, and violence. He was a huge target for the religious right during this period often picketing his shows throughout the country.
I witnessed this first hand when I saw the band at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in 1996. While he was known for incredibly vulgar and outlandish shows, I thought the show was nowhere near as bad as I was informed. There was no defecation, body dismembering, or acts of violence. That said, I imagine the misinformation probably helped sell albums and concerts tickets.
In my opinion, Manson has released four stellar albums: Mechanical Animals, Holy Wood, Born Villain, and, one of the best concept albums of all-time, Antichrist Superstar.
What I like about Manson, is that he not only creates controversy, but embraces the fact that he is a rock star. He lives the rock and roll lifestyle to the fullest without apology. Without Manson, the world would be pretty damn boring. The music world could use more Marilyn Manson and less Nickleback if you ask me.
